Chapter 909. Sera (9)

- You think so?

- ...

- You think Father will be happy?

- I-I’m sure he’ll be happy. H-He might forgive us. T-T-Thro and Domi said they’ll talk to him, too. I’m sure...

Kgh

... M-Mother will be happy, too... S-She might look for me again.

‘He

does

look desperate.’

This was a brand-new side of him that I could only see because he had no choice but to do something like this. I was not sure whether this was an appropriate description or not, but he looked similar to an anxious puppy without their owner around.

They

did

go against my wishes, but they knew that they acted out of place, so their reaction was totally reasonable. It had only been a day and a few hours, but the boys already looked exhausted.

They were trying to rely on each other, but there was a limit to that.

I couldn’t help but think that they had finally found a place where they could seek refuge. Seraphim was always looking for that kind of place, so it was understandable for him to show that kind of reaction.

However, it was a different story for the epitome of composure, Cherubim. The way he was acting made me think that they were feeling cornered.

Still, Cherubim...

- He won’t forgive us.

'Does he really think that he's making a reasonable judgement here?'

- Still, he might reconsider. Right, Sera?

- Yeah. I-If your mother helps, too...

- Mother...

Cherubim started tearing up at the thought of Cha Hee-Ra. In the end, he nodded anxiously. The issue was whether they could even handle the monster or not. I believed that a party of four could handle this monster, so it was impossible with just the two of them. Actually, even a party of four would find it difficult to handle this unprecedented monster.

The two looked at each other as they got ready for the hunt, and the moment they charged, I heard a voice beside me.

'Ah, here he goes again. I’m done talking.'

“Hyung...” Rafael said.

“...”

“Hyung, are you really... going with us?” Rafael asked.

“

Haha

... you don’t have to worry too much about me, Mr. Rafael,” I told him.

“Of course, I’ll do my best so you don’t get hurt... but still... I’m worried... that I might make a mistake...” Rafael said.

“I used to be an adventurer, too, you know? I cleared a lot of dungeons and camped out in forests many times. At the very least, I won’t get in the way,” I said.

“E-Even if you tell me that...” Rafael stuttered.

'What the hell?'

“I’m sorry, hyung. I didn’t mean to say that... I wasn’t trying to insult you...” Rafael apologized.

“It’s fine. I completely understand how you feel, Mr. Rafael. However, I’d like to see it for myself,” I said.

“Then, promise me that you’ll follow my orders until the end of the expedition,” Rafael requested.

Hearing that, I became convinced that he had truly grown a lot. He had always been a passive individual, but he had finally become confident enough to make that kind of request.

“Okay, I’ll do that since your party is in charge of this.

Ah

, I don’t know if you heard, but a similar monster has appeared in the capital. I think rumors about this dungeon have been spreading among the adventurers in the Democratic Country...” I informed him.

“Yes, I’m aware, hyung,” Rafael said.

“If you’d like, I can ask for protection—”

“No, you don’t need to do that. I’m just happy to be working with you, hyung... Everything else is secondary,” he interrupted.

'He’s really good at making people feel touched. He’s a model pushover.'

“And you said you'd help, so we wouldn't be late at all,” Rafael added.

Unfortunately, I was convinced that we were already late.

I wasn't sure about everything else, but I felt like we were marching as slow as a turtle.

Of course, we were entering the forest a lot faster than the other parties, but the problem was that we were too cautious.

I knew it was best to look before one leaped into a river, but he was actually looking at every little thing before jumping into the river. The party’s rangers, who were up ahead, could have a cup of coffee, and we’d still be at the same spot.

Even Jo Hye-Jin was starting to feel annoyed...

'She's the type to do things by the book as well...’

But this was just too much...

The formation consisted of foreigners participating in the expedition, and they had no idea what was going on. Fortunately, they had a competent summoning mage because soldiers made of magic were marching along with them, which was a rare sight.

It also meant that the formation itself was strong and stable.

I could guarantee that monsters and humans would see them as a solid wall.

We couldn’t use teleport because of Jung Ha-Yan’s condition, but she was walking with Han Sora, so it seemed that she wanted to participate in the expedition as well.

Thronus, Dominions, and Jo Hye-Jin were here as well, and they maintained formation as if they were protecting an important figure.

It seemed that Rafael wanted to show me that he had changed a lot because he'd give orders or listen to any new information about the ongoing situation with a serious expression.

Such as...

“Any news from the rangers?”

And...

“Please search the area a little more thoroughly. If a third one were to appear, there’d be no guarantee that a fourth one wouldn't appear. Hyung’s safety is the top priority here.”

And...

“How long do you think it’ll take? How are the preparations for the hunt? Have you made sure that the other variables are within the expected range? Report to me as soon as you receive news. What if we dispatch the rangers to see what type of monster it is?"

He'd call Lee Joo-Hyuk and Marian, who were his closest advisors, and come up with a strategy with them. Of course, one of the most important things that had to be done here was getting information. We weren't here to have fun and play games, after all.

Even a high-level adventurer would die if they made a mistake.

We basically had only a little information about this monster, so the protocol was to conduct more thorough research. However, Rafael’s gaze seemed to be telling me something else.

He looked like he was begging me to look at him and see how much he had grown and that he was no longer the old Rafael.

He also seemed worried about not performing well during the hunt.

I was sure he didn’t want to show his sloppy side to his benefactor. I was certain that was the reason why Rafael’s party was so tense. They didn’t want to miss even the tiniest detail, but it applied to me as well.

“Thro,” I called out.

“Yes, Father,” Thro answered.

“It looks like you’ve been doing some research. I’d like to hear your opinion,” I requested.

“Okay.”

The more information, the better....

“The monster’s habits were very similar to trolls—a monster commonly seen in this forest,” Thro said.

“Really?”

“Yes. Actually, they looked alike.... I was in the process of confirming what I already knew, such as its claws, footprints, and their appearance when sticking close to a tree...” Thro answered.

“That’s interesting. Domi, have you found anything?” I asked.

“I’m not at the stage where I can tell you anything for sure...” Domi replied.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

“I see,” I said.

“If you’d like, I can tell you my opinion despite the lack of information,” Domi said.

“Go ahead.”

“I performed several tests on the monster that first appeared based on the information that Thro had provided to me. I couldn't find out many things, but one assumption I can make is that this monster may have already existed long ago,” Domi explained.

“If your assumption is correct, then the first monster must've been a troll long ago,” I said.

“Yes, but I don’t know what kind of power made it mutate that way. I believe I came to a conclusion a bit too soon, so I need more time to verify the information that I have. Right now...” Domi trailed off.

“

Hmm...

”

“I didn’t have enough time to investigate, but it was the same for the second monster, Father. The two seemed similar, but they were completely different entities... If something made them mutate that way...” Domi paused again.

I wonder if that was the reason behind the manifestation of holy power inside them.

“I’d like to hear more. It’s fine if they haven’t been confirmed yet,” I requested.

“Well...” Domi said hesitantly.

“...”

'They’re worried about making a mistake. I’m not that cold-hearted.'

“Actually, I succeeded in securing tissue samples that are found in both monsters, Father,” Domi informed me.

‘Great.’

“The problem is that the samples' origin is unclear....” Domi added.

“Is there a way to find out?” I asked.

“T-To put it bluntly, I believe it’s the blood of the transcendent being that transformed those monsters. If holy power is the common trait between the two monsters, then—”

“Domi!” Thro exclaimed, casting a shocked look at Domi.

Domi hadn't said anything yet, but she was implying that she'd be able to find the answer faster by comparing the samples to my blood.

“You’d be able to compare if you had my blood,” I said.

“T-That’s...”

“I’m not scolding you. I actually want to compliment you,” I told her.

'I'm kind of scared of seeing my own blood, but—Ack, I'm scared.

'

I placed a dagger on my finger, and blood started coming out of my finger. The children were surprised, and their faces turned pale. They definitely didn't expect me to do something like this because they looked shocked.

Thro looked particularly shocked, which was kind of funny.

Domi snapped back to reality. Realizing what she had to do, she whipped out a small medicine bottle and extended it toward my bleeding finger with her trembling hands.

Soon, my blood filled up the small bottle.

“M-M-Me, too...”

'Why are you standing in line, Ha-Yan?'

“I-I want one to keep, too,” Jung Ha-Yan said.

'Fine, take it.'

“Would you like some as well, MIss Hye-Jin?” I asked.

“Stop saying such ridiculous things and get that treated, sir,” Jo Hye-Jin said.

It suddenly occurred to me that they were onto something here.

‘How absurd.’

Thronus and Dominions were probably right, especially Thronus. He wasn’t bold enough to ask for his father’s blood since nothing had yet to be confirmed. Fortunately, Dominions was more courageous when it came to something like this.

Since she grew up in the Black Swan Guild, she was skilled in experiments and gathering information, and she was exceptional when it came to drawing a conclusion out of nothing, which made me think she really was like Lee Ji-Hye.

Anyway, if Dominions was right, then those two were transformed by a god's blood.

‘There’s a dungeon beneath the Vatican.’

Mole Saint’s Cozy Sanctuary.

For some reason, I had a feeling that I knew whose blood made those monsters mutate.

“Benigoa?”

Was it safe to assume that those anomalous monsters had consumed Benigoa’s blood?

It would be really funny if that was the case. I had some questions I personally wanted to ask the Vatican, but I felt like I already had the answers.

First of all, the templars.

‘Did you guys drink it too?’

For some reason, I became suspicious of them.

“...”

“...”

Deep underground in the Vatican...

“...”

‘Ha...’

Could it be that Benigoa’s corpse was there?